Today is RELEASE DAY for Lost Inheritance, another Smoky Mountain novel from author, Lin Stepp! CONGRATULATIONS!! Visit her website

Author Lin Stepp takes readers deep into the heart of Tennessee AGAIN. The travels and views are stunning even more than in past stories.
As a ‘regular reader’ of these Tennessee novels, I enjoy it even more when I begin to recognize locales of other stories.

Lost Inheritances has some new twists as the story rolls along. The central themes rotate around building — high quality construction on costly homes — and art — high quality, original art, prints and gifts for the tourists. Set in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, the story is a little different geographically. Formerly, the small Smoky Mountain communities were not so familiar.

Smoky Mountain LIfe

I like the informative story pieces around the themes of building and art along with Smoky Mountain scenery Added enjoyment can be found in learning about the fields of building and art in a subtle manner, unusual colored threads in the tapestry of a good story, making it a memorable story. Readers come away informed about more than they expected. The blending of local community and big city without judgement is pleasant.

There are some unexpected romances, each couple offering different views of people and life. Some folks win and some lose. From page one, there is a clear inheritance that gets misdirected into the hands of an undeserving character. Is that the lost inheritance or is there another? That is one of the TWISTS that readers get to watch for. I am sure I found this twist early on, but I had to read it out to the reveal to see the twists work out. The result was not one that I had expected!

Lin S gives readers a novel that has fresh story as it moves along. Not boring formula writing that beats me about the head and shoulders with the intent. For this one, there was some leeway in the intent and while I was pretty sure how things would turn out, sometimes I wasn’t quite so sure.

Friend & Fan Disclosure

As a fan and friend in faith, I commend Lin Stepp’s writing revealing her faith foundations. There is no doctrinal pushing, but there is honestly in the way characters express their faith. Along with the faith piece, this author manages to write over 280 pages with no vulgarities or gratuitous erotica. Another favorite has been Daddy’s Girl, reviewed earlier here

My copy of the book was a gift of an autographed copy. While I would gladly give the story TEN stars, I was only invited to enjoy reading, but not obligated to review, either good or bad. One thing I will assure you — you may read my copy, but you must read it at my house, for it means too much to me to risk losing it. I have some others that you can take home!

Joy Ross Davis brings more angelic storytelling to her readers and the Angel Pack! Set in Ireland, 1938, Emalyn’s Treasure tells us of a young woman with a heightened spiritual experience which contributes to the ‘treasure’ that she has kept close by, yet hidden from all, since she was a 6 year old child. Her encounter with lightning and a protective angel lies at the foundation for the treasure story.

Emalyn has led a privileged life during a tumultuous period in Irish history that we seldom hear about. Civic improvements for water and electricity were becoming accepted and expected, although resisted by some people. Assessment costs and resistance to change sparked civil disorder. I especially enjoy a story where I can learn — a factoid here; a skill there! Our Author’s research is extremely active for this book; the descriptions of politics, available appliances, clothing, decor, architecture, and hospitably take you right into 1938!

Our Emalyn is still a young spirit, becoming more mature and generous by the day. How blessed the man and woman who find their matching ‘swan’ to become a life’s companion as Emalyn and husband Owen have done. Joy Ross Davis brings her gentle story-telling to Emalyn’s Treasure as we would expect, with some twists and turns that keep it from being at all saccharin sweet! Indeed, tragedy marks high points in the story and leads to the finale.

Emalyn’s Treasure has no ghosts. Angels are present to take on earthly appearances, protecting and guiding the characters through their activities. Lives are transformed subtly. Supportive characters Fiona and Percy become more mature. I perceive the potential for follow-up stories, but as a skilled author, Joy Ross Davis brings this story to a sensible end without a cliff hanger ending that seems to just drop off that cliff.

Trust me — Emalyn’s Treasure is going to be a favorite. I recommend the book for a book club discussion because of the socio-political topic potential. Emalyn’s Treasure is a pre-cursor to the story in The Beggar’s Miracle.

Readers will find other reviews for books from B.J. Robinson’s pens at Cardinal Bluff.

When the Snow Comes is one of the best books I’ve seen from this author. If you are looking for a gentle pleasure read during a busy time, this story would be a good fit.

The author’s style lets readers put the book down to finish holiday tasks, stir the soup and start a load of laundry while making plans for company or school activities! Sometimes there isn’t an opportunity to crawl off for an afternoon and just READ!

Waiting for the first snows of winter, a seemingly star-crossed couple take their time to become re-acquainted without high drama. Amber and Adam build romantic foundations for their future in the midst of intricate descriptions of the scenery, wildlife, Victorian homes, farm homes and creative art work. Readers will learn of painting, fine furniture and good cooking as they enjoy being a part of Amber and Adam’s plans. These readers will be introduced to local events and tourism in the Winter mountains…waiting for the first snow. Adam’s family is particularly creative. Both Adam and his mother have found their artistic lives fulfilling and profitable. These abilities contributed to misunderstandings between Amber and Adam when he had difficulty understanding that she needed to leave the community to pursue her dreams of becoming a nurse. He didn’t anticipate that their faith could be rewarded by employment for her right back in the community.

A special family recipe for Louisiana Cornbread Dressing for the author’s family is included. You’re permitted to skip to the end for this, so you can treat your family to some good Southern eating right away!

When the Snow Comes has a strong fundamental Christian focus, but spares readers tiresome dogma. There is no profanity or violence.

Susan Lawrence’sdebut novel faces the saddest of events that one could imagine. When Emily Adams is driving down a street, being watchful of a nearby bicyclist, a small boy, Isaiah, rides his skateboard in front of her car. Cars move too fast — no way could she have stopped. Cars are too much for a little kid and the child dies.

The rubber tunnel of grief and guilt that comes next threatens to destroy Emily’s marriage while Isaiah’s parents are in painful limbo. Emily feels she might be able to silence her guilt by doing good things…especially participating in marathons and runs to raise funds for charity…until she suffers an injury that seems to block that effort.

Isaiah’s grandmother’s faith leads to some beautiful connections which in the end honor this little boy’s memory. A subplot surfaces with the assault of Isaiah’s aunt, Carrie Anne, in her Central American mission city. Carrie Anne’s devotion to the children of the mission put her in a dangerous situation, yet a place she would probably go again to rescue the child who has come to the mission language classes. Carrie Annis sent home to her mother (Isaiah’s grandmother) to recover . When she gets there, she finds there is work for her in providing some spiritual support for her family.

The nasty, ambulance chaser lawyer is maybe a little over-drawn, but plays his part pretty well as he lures Isaiah’s parents into the possibility of a wrongful death law suit against Emily.

Writing from the wooded country of Iowa and releasing this first novel, Susan Lawrence has taken her own experiences as a teacher before she was an author and speaker, blending and bending imagination to scenarios of reality that no imagination can top. A sweet, sad, moving story that is not difficult to read. No profanity or offensive content. Bring a Hanky.

Reminding myself that nothing fictional can ever be dreamed that can be more outrageous than what happens in real life. In her debut novel, Carole Brown surely pushes readers’ tolerances in this book. Expect to be incensed and on the defense of people who want to escape cults or who can be sucked into that sort of spiritual mire. (You can find more releases from Carole Brown at her Amazon page in the link)

Caralynn Haman’s story is one of the spiritually and physically damaging religious cult life. Be prepared for graphic violence, physical and emotional abuse, lurid scenes and profanity.

As an attractive, spirited, challenging woman, Cara is the perfect foil for a religious cult where women are supposed to be nothing and are aggressively kept in ‘submission’. An interesting and not incorrect touch are the female characters who provide the foil when they show the power that women exert while keeping their sisters in obedience and submission.

Cara’s situation and character has led her to be rather amoral…after the death of her daughter at the hands of one of the cult leaders, she bides her time and lets disaster take its course to achieve vengeance. In some cases, Cara gives ‘fate’ a little push!

Her youthful love, Daune, raised in the cult with Cara, returns from college where he has seen the light and hopes to bring change to the cult believers. Because this cult is largely a business arrangement and not spiritually guided in any way, the suspense and plot thickens when his hopes are resisted. And when Cara’s submission is one of the goals to be achieved at any cost. Daune’s witness reaches Cara and several of the others about the truth in Christ overcoming the ‘gospel according to their destructive leader’ before the final scene where the real bad guy gets justice.

As this type of story goes, the writing is decent if not profound. If the read seems to be a little over the top at times, be kind and forgive the plot. These cults are not imaginary. The merit in the writing is to reveal the abuse; nothing works to slow the progress like tattling.